Oldskool Rave Hardcore emerged in the early 1990s as part of the exploding electronic music scene. Originally known simply as Rave, Hardcore, or Rave Hardcore, it later adopted the "oldskool" prefix to differentiate it from other similar genres.

The genre combined elements of Rave music with breakbeats, replacing the typical 4/4 kick drum pattern. It incorporated various samples, including rap-style call-and-response, Italo House-style piano fills, and pitched-up "chipmunk" vocals. Tracks were typically sped up to around 160 BPM, creating a frantic, energetic sound.

The Roland W-30 workstation, released in 1989, played a crucial role in shaping the genre's sound, providing producers with a wide array of samples and effects that became staples of Oldskool Rave Hardcore.

While initially characterized by creative experimentation, the genre's sound became more homogenized as producers relied on similar sample libraries. By 1993, Oldskool Rave Hardcore began to split into two directions: one embracing infantile samples, leading to Happy Hardcore, and the other focusing on the Amen Break, evolving into Jungle.

Today, Oldskool Rave Hardcore exists primarily as a nostalgic genre, with occasional tracks produced in homage to the original sound and retro events featuring classic tracks from the era.